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Some transport groups have postponed the supposed transport strike on Monday amid the surging prices of fuel products.
These groups are the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) and the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), according to Bernadette Reyes’ 24 Oras Weekend report on Saturday.
Instead, they will meet with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), along with other transport groups, to discuss fare increases, as the agencies will begin distributing financial aid to jeepney, UV Express, and Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers.
“I-focus namin po ‘yan dahil po mismo ang ating pangulo alam niya magkano ang baseline nu’ng tumaas ang ating krudo na umabot na ngayon na mahigit P100 [per liter]. Nagsimula po ‘yan sa P49 [per liter], may P51, hanggang P55. I-atras po namin panandalian [ang transport strike],” LTOP president Orlando Marquez said.
(We will focus on that because President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself knows the baseline price when fuel started to rise, which has now reached over P100 [per liter]. It started at P49 [per liter], then P51, up to P55. We will postpone [the transport strike] for now.)
“Kasi po binalita po sa amin na baka ibigay na po ‘yung dalawang pisong [dagdag pasahe] hinihiling namin at saka ‘yung P10,000 subsidy,” FEJODAP chairman Deo Sotto said.
(Because we were told that the P2 fare increase we’re requesting and the P10,000 subsidy might be granted.)
But other transport groups said they can no longer operate with the rising fuel prices.
Juan Transport Services Cooperative, which is plying routes in Quezon City, said they either postpone their operations or have limited units operating.
“Sa modern [jeepney] natin, pumapalo ito ng P74,000 sa 21 units na modern. So hindi na talaga kami kikita. Kaya minabuti namin na tumigil muna. At least ma-save namin ‘yung isang araw. And then ngayon, operation kami pero reduced na ‘yung units natin,” said Misael Melinas, president of Juan Transport Services Cooperative.
(We spent P74,000 for 21 modern units, so we really don’t earn anymore. That’s why we decided to stop for now, at least to save one day’s costs. And at times operate but with reduced units.)
Nearly 80% of tricycle drivers also stopped operating in Casiguran, Aurora, while some jeepney drivers did not ply their routes or reduced their trips in Mangaldan, Pangasinan.
Aside from high fuel prices, some gasoline stations have also temporarily closed.
GMA Integrated News is reaching out to the LTFRB and DOTr regarding the matter.
According to oil industry sources, next week, diesel prices could rise by P16 to P18 per liter, and gasoline by P9 to P11 per liter.
Long lines were observed at a gasoline station in North Fairview, Quezon City on Saturday morning, since prices of petroleum products are lower compared to other areas.
Its gasoline is priced at P74 per liter, while diesel costs over P101 per liter.
Meanwhile, in Pasay City, premium diesel costs up to P120 per liter, while gasoline sells for up to P99.50 per liter.
Some gasoline stations offered discounts, like the one along Mindanao Avenue, where gasoline costs just over P72 per liter and diesel costs P94 per liter.
On Wednesday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is expected to begin distributing cash assistance to jeepney drivers in addition to the fuel subsidy from the DOTr. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/KG, GMA Integrated News
